Photos by @gettiny @aliveco

Goose’s second annual Viva El Gonzo festival came to a close last night. The destination event featured several sets by the weekend’s host band, including an acoustic offering, as well as performances by My Morning Jacket, Eggy, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The California Honeydrops and several other acts.

On the Round Rocks stage, the collaborations kicked off early when Goose invited Mikaela Davis to play harp throughout their cover-heavy acoustic set. The festivities commenced with the “indie-groove’ version of the Goose original “Atlas Dogs” and then went on to include Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis,” “California Magic” and the group’s first take on Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” since November 10, 2024, which is also heavily indebted to The Band’s variation on the number. From there, the musicians closed the segment with a run from Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Master & A Hound” into Radiohead’s “True Love Waits,” “Drive” and the single “Give It Time.” 

At the top of My Morning Jacket’s extended early evening performance, Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda and Cotter Ellis also took the stage with the Kentucky-bred group for a show-opening version of “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.).” Goose have been covering the tune–which originated on Jim James’ 2013 solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God–since 2020 and James previously joined them for a spin on the song this past fall in Louisville, KY. (As previously reported, a day earlier Mitarotonda also sat in with James during his solo set at Viva El Gonzo on a cover of Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy.”) Then, during Eggy’s spot following MMJ’s marquee slot, the quartet brought out saxophonist Stuart Bogie, who was on site for his own set and to guest with Goose, for Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Alien.”  

For the day’s climax, Goose turned in a full two-set show that featured a festival’s worth of unique moments. Bogie took the stage with the band at the start of their first set, joining in on “Hot Tea” and a segue from “Good2B” into “Western Sun.” Then, after “MEDIA,” Goose performed a refreshed version of “Toreo” for the first time since June 21, 2025 and, more notably, the first time since the tune was announced as part of their forthcoming BIG MODERN! album.

For their final set of the festival, Goose brought out Bogie once again for another three songs, “Creatures,”  “This Old Sea” and “Madhuvan.” James then emerged to help Goose debut a cover of Neil Young’s classic garage-rock jam “Cortez The Killer” and the MMJ frontman then remained on stage as Goose closed their set with “Rockdale,” marking the first time James has joined Goose for an original from their repertoire. From there, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Goose bassist Trevor Weekz, appearing as DJ Marb Menthols, kept the entertainment going deep into the night.

Goose will kick off a European tour in London on May 22.